Valve-rod clamp.



c. F. SINSABAUGH.

VALVE ROD CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1| 917- v l $1,3@Q Patented June 4,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I 9 M ,4 Z j 2.6 il f ATTORN EY c. F. SINSAAUGH.

VALVE ROD CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE I. 19H.

l. Patented June 4,1918.

l 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2. /f/ L7;

ATTORNEY CHARLES F. SINSABAGH, OF SOUTH WAVERLY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE- THIRD TO CECIL A. TAYLOR, OF SAYRE, INDIANA.

VALVE-ROD CLAMP.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed June 7, 1917. Serial No. 173,338.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SINSA- BAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Waverly, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Rod Clamps, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relatesto valve rod clamps, and more particularly to a clamp for temporarily repairing the valve rod for operating the valve of a locomotive steam engine.

One of the main objects of the invention 1s to provide a valve clamp of simpleJ construe; tion which may be quickly and easlly applied. A further object is to provide a clamp having means for securing the same to a valve rod and to the cross-head for operatlng the valve rod proper. A still furtherobjectus to provide a clamp having oppositely dlsposed clamping jaws so shaped as to it about and tightly grip a valve rod so as to operatively conneot the same to the cross-head for reciprocating the valve, this clamp bemg further provided with abutments adapted to engage the edge portions of the cross-bar of the cross-head so as to transmit forward movement to the same when the eccentric rod is moved forward. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a clamp constructed in accordance with my inventlon as applied,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Flg. 1,

Fig. 4 is a back view of the clamp as applied, V

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modified form of clamp plate, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary s1de view of the modied form of clamp plate illustrated in Fi 5. l

ltclumeral 1 designates the valve stem crosshead which is slidably mounted in suitable guides on the locomotive frame in the usual manner. This head is provided with the inwardly directedtubular sleeves or nipples 2 adapted to receive a wrist pin for pivotallyy securing the forward end of the eccentric rod in the head so as to cause reciprocation of the head. The cross-bar 3.of head 2`is provided with a central rearwardly dil rected gland or nipple 4 formed integrally therewith. This nipple is adapted to receive the reduced end portion 5 of the valve rod 6. The portion 7 of rod 6 intermediate the body of the rod and the reduced end portion 5 is tapered so as to provide a substantial frusto-conical member integral with the rod the forward end of which merges into the reduced end portion 5 of therod a short distance in rear of the nipple'4. This point of juncture between the member7 and the reduced portion 5 of the valve rod 6 is the point at which the rod usually breaks in the event of being subjected to unusual strains.

For this reason, in constructing my clamp, I

have illustrated it as used for temporarily repairing a rod which is broken closelyv adj acent the rearward end of nipple 4, though it will be evident that the clamp may be eX- tended or elongated so as to repair a rod which is broken a considerable distance in rear of this member. Y The reduced end portion 5 of valve rod 6 is provided with a dialnetrical slot which receives the tapered wedge 8. This wedgeA shoulder and flange inclosing and engaging the upper edge portion of the cross-bar 3 of cross-head 1. Plate 13 is similarly shaped at its forward end to provide a shoulder 16 and a flange 17 which engage about the lower edge portion of the crossbar 3. Plate 12 is further provided with a slot 18 adjacent its inner end which, wheny the plate is in operative position, is alined with the slot 9 of nipple 4, andbar 3, plate 13 being provided with a similar slot 19. When the wedge 8 is in operative position, it extends through the alined slots of the reduced portion 5 of rod 6, nipple 4 and plates 12 and 13, projecting a slight distance above and below the plates. A cotter pin 10 is inserted through wedge 8 above plate 12,

a similar pin 11 being inserted through the wedge below plate'13.' These cotter' pinsf act to secure the wedge in position, and also serve to eiiectually prevent outward move` mentyofv plates 12 and 13- vvthus holding. thel shoulders of these plates fintcontact'withthe' inner face of cross-bar 3 of the cross-head 1. A set screw 20 is threaded through' the head of plate 12 at the transverse centerthrough the head of plate 13fat the transverse center thereof. An arcuate' gripping jaw 22 is vthreaded on setlscrewf'21 adjacent the?innerffaceI Voiffthe head'of plate 12. This jaw is of"substantial V-shape in transverse cross' seetion'with the apex of the' lVf'directed inwardly, andis'of suchcurvature as to fit snuglyaboutthebody portion of valvefrod 6. A` similar'jaw23 is threaded on the-set screw 21".'l Theseftwo jaws are Lopposed and are' adapted to'gt about' and grip tightly the'-v Va'lve rod'when lforced into biting-,engage-l ment therew'ith.4 Securing bolts-24-are insertedthrough theheads ofplates 12- and -13 adj at-ieritl each ,endl thereof,"|` nutsf 25 beingf threaded on the-upper ends oflvthese'bolts' abovetheheado'f plate12; By means of p theib'itsarand"nuts 25, the heads-0f theV plates may be'forced yto'wardieach otherso asto 'force gripping :'ja'ws22 yand 23 into biting engagement with;V the valve rod 6.

V4Als'si'im'inglthat therod 6 hasbeen broken at the pointof juncture between lthe reduced portion 5 thereofand the frusto-conicalportion7,.as'.a t vAlf-,fthe plates 12- and-13 may'v beni'oii'ntleol"y on the cross-head 1 as above described. When the plates arethus mounted,

thelgri'ppingljaws 22and 23 will be spaced' in; lrepart the fr usto-conical"- portion 7 of the rod and kmay Vloe yforced, into bitingcngag'ei'nent'with, the body of the rod inl themanner described thus operatively connectingthe cross-head tothe rod. The :t'orward ninfeiie-ntA of-"thevalve .rody will be taken fiom" tliel cross-headl through plates 112 and- 13; and, also', through the body of the rod and the-reduced portion 5. The rearward movement of'therod will be effected by theoit dismantling oi" disassembling. the valve gear," such as is necessary to repair a valverodunder' ordina-ry eonditiens. The clamp servesv asfa temporary securing means for operatively cnnectingythevalve rod to the ci'"oss-'head,1 of' thel valve stem so asto permitthelocom'otive to be operated under its own: power soJ as to return to the repair shops where'it' may be provided witha new rod;

IniFigs; 5 and 601I the'v drawingsl' havel shown amiodi'edfforinof'" the device for operatively connecting the clamp to the crosshead- A securing member 26 is mounted on plate 12. This member is provided with an arn27* having an aperture at ea'ch endtol v receive the securing, `bolts 24, a rearwardly directed larm 28', anda downwardly directed arin 29 at the rearward v endV thereof..- Arm 29 is provided with a verticalslot 30`whi'ch` is adaptedA to receive a fastening, member which may be formed integrally'y with,.orv secured on, nipple 4. In practice, platef 13 would be Ipositioned beneath plate 12 and provided 4with a" securing @member similar "to member 26, but'- disposedV oppositely thereto. By,y this means, thet'woplateswouldlb'e secured to ,nipple 4 'so as totiansmit'the rearward movement of v the val-ve rod j 6 to cross-head 1, tlius'gavoidingthe necessityofk providii'figf Aslots through the inner ends of the plates Tfor the-reception' of we'c'lgey member 8. Theoperation"othisinodiied forni" Off'rClaInpi ifs'theSaniea'the'frm just closed andn'eedinot,v therefore, bedescribed in' detail. j I f What ll claim is:-

1.'- In clamping., means, spaced; clamping plates each. provided at one `end with `an abutment adapted to engage thecros'sbar of a crosshead, oppogseclfgripping'jaws 'carl ried' atthelotherfendi of' saidplate's adapted f to fit about' and grip tightly arodv inserted between the same, and means' forl forcing' l said plates-towardlea'ch otherl4 2. 1n o clamping". means', spaced clamping" plates each providedlat'one'eiid .with'l an" abutment' adapted to ei'ig'age the" crossb'a'r' of a cross-head, opposed" arcuate gripping' jaws carried atthe other'eiid'otfsaidplats adptdfto fit lioutandgip tightly' ai' rod inserted between the same, said' jawsbeing" of approximately Vfshape incrossisection and having' their apeXes' directed inwardly to provide gripping edges for" biting into and gripping tightly' a` rod positionedbe-- tween said'fjaws. and means for forcingsaidplates toward each other.

8.111 clamping means, spaced' clamping' plates each provided" at* one end", with an,y abutment adapted 'to engagethe crossibarof a cross-head, opposed arcuate grippingjaws" carried at. the otherl end" of said plates adapted to flt'aboutl and griptightly a rod insertedl between" the' same, said' jaws being of approximately" V-shape inv c'ross-section and having their ap'e'X'es directed'. inwardly to provide gripping. edges ,for bitingi'nto" and grippingU tightly a'rod positioned bef tween said jaws, means for secl'iring.` the jaws4 on their respective plates and .,fo'rfk ad# justingl'saidlja'ws towardand away from' the 130 plates whereby the distance apart of said jaws may be varied to suit rods of different thicknesses, and means for forcing said plates toward each other.

4. In clamping means, spaced clamping plates each provided at one end with an abutment adapted to engage the cross-bar of a cross-head, opposed arcuate gripping jaws carried at the other end of said plates adapted to t about and grip tightly a rod inserted between the same, said jaws being of approximately V-shape in cross-section and having their apexes directed inwardly to provide gripping edges for biting into and gripping tightly a rod positioned between said jaws, set screws threaded through said plates and into said jaws for adjusting the jaws toward and away from each other, and means for forcing said plates toward each other.

5. In clamping means, spaced plates of approximately T-shape each provided adjacent the base end of its stem with an inwardly projecting shoulder adapted to engage the edge portion of a valve stem crosshead, securing bolts passed through the heads of said plates adjacent each end thereof each having a unit threaded thereon, and opposed clamping jaws mounted on the inner faces of said plates and adapted to t about and grip tightly7 Jriotionally a rod positioned between said jaws when the plates are forced toward each other.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLESv F. SINSABAUGH.

Witnesses:

CHESTER A. MUIR, H. STANLEY WINLACK.

Copies nt thin patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patenti,

Washington, D. C. 

